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Blackfriars, Gloucester
Travel Information and nearby accommodation
One of the finest surviving examples of a medieval Dominican friary. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries the friary buildings were converted into a house in Tudor style, and still later, into a cloth factory.
Black Friars was the name commonly given to Dominican monks, who wore a black surcoat, or cloak, over their white robes.
Among the best features of Blackfriars is the friary church and the dormitory, with a scissor-braced roof.
The cloister, which was finished around 1239, contains a scriptorium, which may be the oldest surviving library building in England. The scriptorium was where the monks studied, or worked on books and manuscripts. It was often placed along the cloister walk, where the light through the cloister arches provided good illumination for working on manuscripts.
The friary was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539, at which point it was purchased by Sir Thomas Bell. Bell was a clothing merchant of great wealth; indeed, at the height of his power he employed roughly a tenth of the entire population of Gloucester in the making of knitted caps. Bell created a mansion from the central portion of the church, and used the other monastic buildings for his business ventures.
The monastic buildings went through a variety of owners. At various points Blackfriars served as a home to a stonemason, private school, church, and mineral water bottling works.
Access to Blackfriars is curently only by pre-booked tour. See English Heritage website for details.
Blackfriars Lane,
Gloucester,
Gloucestershire,
England
About Blackfriars, Gloucester
Attraction Type: Abbey
Location: Off Ladybellegate Street, off Southgate Street. Paid parking nearby.
Website: Blackfriars, Gloucester
English Heritage
Location
map
OS SO828184
Heritage Highlight: The cloister scriptorium is possibly the oldest surviving library in England
Heritage Rating:  ?
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Nearest Tourist
Information Centre
Gloucester
Tourist Information Centre
28 Southgate Street
Gloucester
Gloucestershire
England
GL1 2DP
Tel: 01452 396 572
Alternate Tel: 01452 396 576
Fax: 01452 504 273
Email: tourism@gloucester.gov.uk
Web: http://www.gloucester.gov.uk/tourism
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